Match Review : (England) Burnley v Man City / Arsenal vs West Ham United.

Burnley v Man City

Craig Burley gives credit to Burnley for their historic win and doesn't hold anything back against a woeful Man City.

George Boyd struck a stunning second-half winner as Burnley enhanced their survival hopes by further ravaging Manchester City's fading title quest with a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor.

Boyd scored with a brilliant low strike from the edge of the area after 61 minutes to settle a tight Barclays Premier League contest that had belatedly come to life after a drab first half.

City wanted a penalty in injury time when Pablo Zabaleta went down under a Ben Mee challenge but referee Andre Marriner gave a free-kick the other way.

The result leaves champions City still trailing Chelsea by five points at the top, but now having played two games more.

It will also increase the heat on manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose side have fallen away badly since pulling level with Chelsea on New Year's Day.

City's hopes of rescuing something from their season may now come down to the sizeable task of overturning a 2-1 deficit against Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.

But while there might be much soul-searching back at the Etihad Stadium, Burnley can surely look forward to the run-in with confidence.

Victory was only their second in 13 games and pulled them within a point of 17th-placed Sunderland.

City's team selection had suggested they meant business, with captain Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho both back in the starting line-up after reports of a row between the pair at Liverpool a fortnight ago.

The game took time to come to life but Kieran Trippier, a former City trainee, caused his old club some problems with his deliveries from the right.

One cross whipped in caught Gael Clichy high on his body, towards the top of his arm, but Marriner gave the City defender the benefit of any doubt.

George Boyd may have ruined Manchester City's title hopes with his winner on Saturday.

Edin Dzeko had City's first serious opportunity but lashed a long-range shot well wide.

Dzeko was presented with a better chance after Fernandinho won the ball and played him in but goalkeeper Tom Heaton blocked and then gathered Sergio Aguero's follow-up.

Joe Hart was called into action at the other end to claim a deflected Scott Arfield shot before Aguero smashed another effort into the side-netting.

But overall it was a lacklustre first half, and the crowd almost got more animated when a City fan proposed to his Burnley-supporting girlfriend on the pitch at half-time. She responded positively but the home fans were not so sure, chanting, 'You don't know what you're doing'.

The second half proved a much livelier affair with both sides showing greater urgency.

Aguero stretched the Burnley defence with a nice turn and run from halfway but his ball to a wide-open David Silva was delayed fractionally too long and the Spaniard was forced wide of goal.

Aguero stabbed an effort just wide himself when he met a Zabaleta ball from the right with a quick snap-shot.

Burnley upped their tempo in response and Boyd served warning of his prowess with a superb volleyed effort from 20 yards which flew just wide.

He went one better to give the Clarets the lead just after the hour.

Trippier was also involved, lofting in a free-kick which Kompany headed out towards the Scot. Boyd met it on the half-volley with a crisp left-foot shot which flew low across Hart and into the bottom corner.

City boss Manuel Pellegrini immediately tried to shake things up by sending on headline January signing Wilfried Bony for Dzeko. Another striker in Stevan Jovetic entered the fray soon after, although it was a surprise that Silva made way.

It proved to no avail and City could not penetrate the Clarets defence, who closed in on a famous victory. Aguero headed wide and substitute Frank Lampard had a free-kick blocked.

Zabaleta appealed for a spot-kick after a challenge by Mee, who had earlier been booked, in injury time. It looked a close call but it was not to be City's day.

 Arsenal vs West Ham United

Arsenal's 3-0 victory over West Ham.

Olivier Giroud's thunderbolt helped Arsenal see off the challenge of West Ham and cement their place in the top four of the Premier League with a 3-0 victory.

The Gunners recorded an eighth home league success to keep the pressure on second-placed Manchester City after finally seeing off what was a spirited second-half effort from the Hammers.

Theo Walcott, recalled to the starting XI following injury to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, had missed a couple of early chances before goalkeeper Adrian was beaten on the stroke of half-time by a fierce angled drive from French striker Giroud, which cannoned in off the far post.

West Ham, who have plummeted down the table following a poor run of results, regrouped for the second half and would have been good value for an equaliser.

Olivier Giroud fires in the opening goal for Arsenal.

However, Arsenal finally broke then down again with nine minutes left when Aaron Ramsey fired in after a neat one-two with Giroud and substitute Mathieu Flamini rolled home a third to send Arsene Wenger's side into next week's Champions League tie away to Monaco with renewed hope of an unlikely comeback.

Walcott, who had not played since the 3-1 European home defeat by the French side on February 25, was played clear by a flick from Giroud on five minutes.

However, he hesitated in the six-yard box and James Collins made a last-ditch block as referee Chris Foy waved away appeals for a penalty with Walcott sprawling on the floor.

Arsenal remained on the offensive, and in the 15th minute West Ham goalkeeper Adrian had to be alert to turn away a bullet header from Alexis Sanchez.

West Ham, who had just one win from the last nine league games, tried to offer something on the counter. Midway through the half Matt Jarvis got clear down the right and pulled the ball back to Kevin Nolan at the edge of the penalty area. The West Ham captain drilled a volley goalwards, which David Ospina scrambled away.

Arsenal almost snatched the lead when Ramsey's flick up off his knee from Calum Chambers' cross was palmed over by Adrian.

The Spaniard was needed again in the 33rd minute after Walcott latched onto a through ball from Ramsey, but saw his effort blocked at the near post.

Sanchez had an effort palmed away and was then booked for handball as he flapped at a high ball into the six-yard box.

Walcott spurned another great chance on the stroke of half-time when Mesut Ozil's snapshot was deflected out by Adrian, but the England forward could only fire the ball high into the Clock End.

It was finally 1-0 in added time, with a goal of the highest quality by Giroud.

Another quick exchange of passes around the penalty area saw Ramsey burst clear into the right. Giroud ran across to neatly collect the ball from him before rifling a left-foot strike in off the far post.

There was a stoppage at the start of the second half when Ospina needed treatment after being clattered into by Diafra Sakho at the near post, but was soon able to resume.

West Ham were much improved and continued to press a higher line, with Jarvis blazing the ball over from a corner.

On the hour referee Foy could not continue due to injury and was replaced by fourth official Anthony Taylor.

Arsenal made a change in the 65th minute when Sanchez was replaced by Danny Welbeck, who scored the winning goal against former club Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-final on Monday night.

Ozil then chose to chip back across goal rather than shoot when clear on the left, with Walcott's knockdown volleyed wide by Ramsey.

Arsenal finally ended West Ham's resilience with a second goal in the 81st minute. Giroud and Ramsey exchanged a neat one-two on the right side of the penalty area before the Wales midfielder drilled the ball past Adrian.

Flamini had not been on the pitch long before he arrived on cue at the far post for a tap-in after Santi Cazorla's one-two with Giroud down the left.